Folding book rest and stand



(No Model.)

T G. WALKERv & W. E. ORAYTON.

FOLDING BOOK REST AND STAND.

No. 334,313. Patented Jan. 12, 1886.

M T/V15 8855 Maw lA/l/E/VTO 5 Affornq s NITED I STATES THEODORE C. \VALKER, OF PENFIELD, AND \VILLIAM E. GRAYTON, OF

LIMA,

onto.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 334,313, dated January 12,1886.

Application filed May 26, 1885. Serial No. 166,762. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we,THEoDoRE G. WALKER, of Penfield, in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, and WILLIAMI E. CRAYTON, ofLima, in the county of Allen and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Book Bests and Stands; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in folding book racks and stands; and it consists in certain features of construction and in combination of parts, hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my improved device in its folded position. Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the device in position distended. Figs. 3 and 4 are views in perspective showing the device that secures and forms the hinge for the legs and supports the stand-top. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view in perspective showing the upper ends of the legs from the inside. Fig. 6 is a plan view of a tilting shelf. Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of a portion of the lower shelf, showing a modified construction.

A represents the legs, that are connected in pairs by the cross-pieces a, a, and a The contiguous edges of the legs at the upper ends are beveled, so that when the legs are distended the beveled parts fit together, as shown in Fig. 3, and an annular groove, A, is made in the inner face of each pair in such position that the groove is bisected by the joint.

B are tilting brackets provided, respectively, with an annular flange, B, that abuts against the inner face of the legs, and from the face of the flange, and concentric therewith, laterally projects the annular rim 1), that fits in the groove A. A cap, 0, is located on the opposite side of the legs with a bolt, 0, that passes through the center of the flange B for securing the parts. The rim b, operating in the groove A, forms a hinge for the legs that may therefore be closed, as shown in Fig. 1, or distended, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The bolts care only tightened to hold the parts in place, leaving the bracketsBfree to be turned on their axes. The brackets are provided with ears I), for securing the stand-top D by screws passing up from below. The periphery of one of the flanges B has radial notches b and a retaining-pawl, E, is pivoted to one of the legs in position for thehook end thereof to engage said notches. The other end of the pawl is of sufficient weightto hold the pawl to its engagement with the notches, and also serves as a thumb-piece for operating the same. By means of the pawl andnotches the top D may be retained at various angles, inclining in either direction, or may be tilted to a vertical position, as shown in Fig. 1, in case the device is to be folded.

F are tilting shelves, secured, respectively, to the brackets f, that have small pins or trunnions (not shown) extending into corresponding holes in the adjacent legs, forming pivotal bearings for the shelves, by means of which the shelves may be turned up or folded against the cross-pieces a and a, as shown in Fig. 1, or may be turned down to be used as bookshelves, as shown in Fig. 2, in which latter position the shelves extend, respectively, under the cross'pieces a, the latter serving as stops. WV hen the shelves F .are let down, the inner edges come close together, and the two shelves and cross-pieces a form a tray in the center for holding light articles. The crosspieces a and a form a back for supporting books that may be placed on these shelves,and the brackets f have respectively ears f, extending above the shelves to hold books from falling off at the ends of the shelves.

Below is a broad shelf, G, that, when in a horizontal position, is intended to be flush with the top of the cross-pieces a. This'shelf is conveniently made with end cleats, g, the ends of which, 5/, project beyond the sides of the shelf, and the projecting ends are round, as shown'in Fig. 6, forming pivots. The pivots of one of these cleats enter corresponding holes (not shown) in one set of the legs, and form a pivotal bearing for the shelf. The ends of the other cleat operate in the grooves a of the opposite set of legs. The shelf G may be made with the grain of the wood running lengthwise of the shelf, as shown in Fig. 7, and thin irons H with respectively thin tongues H, for entering the wood, may be secured to the ends-of the shelf, the irons having the pivots h cast thereon, that take the place of those shown in Fig. 6, g, on the ends of the cleats.

WVhen the shelf is in a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2, the shelf and its attachments hold the legs in a fixed position, and thereby relieve the joints above from extra strain and prevent an accidental collapse of the legs.

\Vhen it is desired to fold the device, first the shelves F are folded, after which the movable side of the shelf G is raised, the ends of the cleat sliding along up the grooves a until the legs are closed, as shown in Fig. 1.

The structureis usually mounted on casters, so that it can be moved when loaded with books or other articles,and when notin use the device can be folded so as to occupy but little space and be set aside. The device can be made plain and of cheap wood and at a small initial cost, or the device can be made more ornamental, according to the demands of the trade.

The convenience of the device and the vari ous uses to which it is adapted render it a desirable article of furniture for offices, libraries, sitting-roomsin fact, for almost every room in either private or public buildings.

WVhat we claim is 1. Afolding book rack and stand, consisting, essentially, of folding legs, shelves movably secured to said folding legs, atilting top, and mechanism, substantially as described, for securing the top to the legs and for retaining it in any desired position, substantially as set forth.

2. In a folding book rack and stand, the combination, with folding legs arranged in pairs, of a shelf pivoted to one set of legs, and having projections for engaging grooves in the other legs, by means of which the shelf may be tilted to fold the legs, and when in a position to perform the functions of a shelf will hold the legs at a fixed point of separation, substantially as set fort-h.

3. In a folding book rack and stand,the combination, with legs arranged in pairs, annular grooves on the legs bisected by the contactline thereof, of tilting brackets with arms for supporting a stand-top, rims attached to said brackets for engaging said grooves to form a hinge for the legs, and a pivotal bearing for the brackets and stand-top, substantially as set forth.

4. Ina folding book rack and stand,the combination, with tilting brackets for supporting the stand-top, having laterally-projecting annular rings engaging annular grooves on the legs, forming hinges for the legs and pivotal bearings for the brackets, of notches in. one of the brackets, a retaining-pawl for engaging said notches and retaining the stand-top in the desired position, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we sign this specification, respectively, in the presence of two witnesses, this 13th and 15th days of May, 1885.

THEODORE O. WALKER. WILLIAM E. ORAYTON. WVitnesses to signature of Theodore C. \Valker:

HERBERT D. RUSSELL, FREDK. K. TRACY. Vitnesses as to Villiam E. Orayton:

0. WV. SMITH, (lrms. lllETZG-ER. 

